There’s something exciting to do outdoors nearly every day of the year.
Experience Yosemite / Mariposa County! Nature lovers and thrill seekers can enjoy countless pursuits. Hiking, rafting, biking, golfing, snow sports, gold panning, rock climbing, fishing, birding, wildflowers, horseback riding, ranches, and more. Mariposa County is full of outdoor adventures!
Alder Creek (strenuous) 12 miles (18.7 km); 6 to 8 hours Begin 0.4 miles up Chilnualna Falls Road The trail begins across the street from the parking area at the “Backcountry Use” sign and leads...
American River Recreation has provided top quality white water rafting for over 25 years. We offer 1 and 2 day trips on the wild and scenic Merced River. Tumbling from the spectacular Yosemite Val...
We have been in business for over 40 years and we offer a wide range of trip options for all experience levels. We also offer group trips, corporate team-building outings, guide training and a v...
Since 1935, Yosemite’s Badger Pass—California’s first established ski area—has been a favorite family destination. The unintimidating slopes and casual atmosphere make it perfect for beginni...
Three miles below the town of Midpines, look for the Briceburg Visitors Center on the left-hand side of the road. Part of the Merced River Wild and Scenic River Corridor, Briceburg was once home to go...
From Mariposa go East on Hwy 140 about 15 miles to Briceburg, turn left on the road next to the right side of the Visitors Center and across the bridge from the parking area. Panning is allowed down...
Bridalveil Fall (easy, but icy in winter) 0.5 miles/0.8 km round-trip; 20 minutes [leashed pets allowed] Begin at the Bridalveil Fall parking area A paved trail leads from the parking area to the b...
Cathedral Lakes (moderate) 7 miles (11.3 km round-trip), 1,000-foot elevation gain; 4 to 6 hours. Begin at Cathedral Lakes trailhead, 1/2 mile west of the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, Shuttle St...
Chilnualna Falls (strenuous) 8.2 miles (13.1 km) round-trip; 5 hours. 2,400 feet elevation gain Begin at Chilnualna Falls parking area, two miles up the Chilnualna Falls Road The trail leads from t...
After you’ve explored Pioneer Village, get back in the car and head down Forest Road (that’s where you turned to get into the General Store parking lot). Drive two miles until you see the parking ...
Chowchilla Mountain Road, off Highway 49S, is one of the original stage routes into Yosemite – stages ran from the railroad at Raymond over Chowchilla Mountain and down into Wawona. Once you get up ...
Cook’s Meadow Loop (easy, but may be a little snowy or icy in winter) 1 mile/1.6 km loop; 30 minutes [wheelchair accessible] [leashed pets allowed] Begin at Valley Visitor Center (shuttle stop #5 ...
Coyote Springs Ranch is a working cattle and horse ranch which has added many facilities to accomodate events and activities for public participation and to share the experience of this beautifu...
Website Guided van, bus and walking tours of Yosemite National Park. full day, half-day, sunset, full moon, natural history and hiking tours available, as well as special events and packages....
Dog Lake and Lembert Dome (moderate) Dog Lake: 2.8 miles (4.5 km) round-trip, 600-foot elevation gain; 3 hours. Lembert Dome: 2.8 miles (4.5 km) round-trip, 850-foot elevation gain; 3 hours. Dog La...
Elizabeth Lake (moderate) 4.8 miles (7.7 km) round-trip, 1,000-foot elevation gain; 4 to 5 hours Begin at Tuolumne Meadows Campground near group camp The trail begins in the B loop of the campgroun...
When you drive down Highway 140 from Midpines toward Briceburg, Feliciana Mountain is off to your right. There are three different Forest Service Roads / trailheads up the mountain, at Carstens Road, ...
Four Mile Trail (strenuous, but closed from approximately December through May due to extremely hazardous conditions) 9.6 miles/15.5 km round-trip. 6 to 8 hours; 3,200 feet/975 m elevation gain Begi...
Gaylor Lakes (moderate) 2 miles (3.2 km) round-trip, 500-foot elevation gain; 2 hours. Begin at Tioga Pass Entrance Station. (Free shuttle service is available twice per day.) This hike offers some...
Glacier Point to Yosemite Valley (strenuous) Four Mile Trail: 4.8 miles (7.7 km) one-way; 3 to 4 hours Panorama Trail: 8.5 miles (13.6 km) one-way; 6 to 8 hours Begin at Glacier Point (Four Mile Tr...
Glen Aulin (moderate) 11 miles (17.7 km) round-trip, 800-foot elevation gain; 6-8 hours Follow the Tuolumne River as it drops to Glen Aulin. Tuolumne Fall and White Cascade are four miles from the t...
Welcome to Mariposa County, the home of Yosemite National Park. If you or your family is planning to visit Yosemite or the surrounding areas consider trying your luck at gold panning, sluicing or met...
In order to increase safety along the Half Dome cables, all people using the Half Dome Trail above the sub-dome must have a permit in possession on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays ...
Harden Lake (moderate) 5.8 mi/9.3 km round-trip. 355 ft/110 m elevation gain on the return trip; 2-4 hours. Begin across from White Wolf Lodge Hike along a gravel road—part of the original Tioga ...
Whether you like to fish, boat, swim, camp or just want to enjoy a picnic day at the lake, Lake McClure and Lake McSwain offer your family some of California's best water-oriented recreation areas. Wh...
Lookout Point (moderate) 2 miles (3.2 km) round-trip; 1 hour Begin at Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station This quick hike takes you to a viewpoint overlooking Hetch Hetchy Valley. ...
The lower foothill areas are largely private ranch lands, with few hiking trails. However the local county roads are so lightly traveled, if you park your car and walk along the road, you will have mo...
Lower Yosemite Fall (easy, but icy in winter) 1 mile/1.6 km loop; 30 minutes [half of loop wheelchair accessible] [leashed pets allowed] Begin at the Lower Yosemite Fall Trailhead (shuttle stop #6) ...
Lukens Lake from Tioga Road (easy) 1.6 miles/2.6 km round-trip. 1 to 2 hours; 200 foot/60 m elevation gain. Begin at Lukens Lake Trailhead on Tioga Road 2 miles east of White Wolf Road The trail wi...
Lukens Lake from White Wolf (moderate) 4.6 mi/7.5 km round-trip. 400 ft/120 m elevation gain; 2-3 hours. Begin across from White Wolf Lodge Follow the trail through a mixed conifer forest to Lukens...
Lyell Canyon via the John Muir Trail (easy) 8 miles (12.9 km) round-trip, 200-foot elevation gain; four hours Begin across the road from the Dog Lake parking area (shuttle stop #2) This trail passe...
The Mariposa Grove, near Yosemite's South Entrance, contains about 500 mature giant sequoias, perhaps the largest living things on Earth, and the oldest giant sequoias may exceed 3,000 years in age. ...
May Lake 2.4 mi/3.9 km round-trip. 485 ft/150 m elevation gain; 1-2 hours. Begin at the May Lake parking area, 1.75 miles (2.8 km) north of Tioga Road A short trail leads through a conifer forest a...
McGurk Meadow, Bridalveil Creek, and Dewey Point (moderate) Bridalveil Creek: 4 miles (6.4 km) round-trip; 2 to 3 hours Dewey Point: 7 miles (11.2 km) round-trip; 3 to 4 hours Begin at McGurk Meado...
After crossing the suspension bridge at Briceburg, bear right and then up Bruma Grade road. This is an extremely steep dirt road (1500’ gain in about four miles), with fifteen (more or less) hairpin...
Traveling east from Midpines toward Yosemite, highway 140 reaches the Merced River at Briceburg. Turn left (if you are traveling eastbound) at the well marked entrance to the Merced River Recreation A...
Mirror Lake/Meadow (easy, but may be a little snowy or icy in winter) 2 miles/3.2 km round-trip; 1 hour [wheelchair accessible] [leashed pets allowed] 5 miles/8 km loop around the lake; 2 hours [pet...
Mono Meadow to view of Mount Starr King (strenuous) 3 miles (4.8 km) round-trip; 2 to 3 hours Begin at Mono Meadow parking area (2.5 miles each of Bridalveil Creek Campground turnoff) The trail des...
Mono Pass (moderate) 8 miles (12.9 km) round-trip, 1,000-foot elevation gain; 4 to 6 hours. Begin at Mono Pass trailhead, on the Tioga Road six miles east of Tuolumne Meadows (free shuttle service i...
Nevada Fall (strenuous; upper portion of the John Muir Trail closed in winter) 5.8 miles/9.2 km round-trip; 5 to 6 hours with 2,000 feet/610 m. elevation gain (via Mist Trail) Begin at Happy Isles (...
North Dome (strenuous) 10.4 mi/16.7 km round-trip. 580 ft/180 m elevation gain on return trip; 5-8 hours. Begin at Porcupine Creek Trailhead on Tioga Road, 1.2 miles (1.9 km) east of Porcupine Flat ...
Greeley Hill Road crosses the North Fork Merced River just east of the road connecting to Highway 120 at Buck Meadows, and just west of the point where it ends, forking to Bull Creek Road to the south...
O.A.R.S. long ago discovered the enduring magic of a classic river trip – stunning scenery, exciting whitewater and captivating companionship. Our company has been providing California whitewa...
Ostrander Lake (strenuous) 12.7 miles (20.3 km) round-trip; 8 to 10 hours Begin at Ostrander Lake trailhead (1.3 miles east of Bridalveil Creek Campground turnoff) The first half of this trail incl...
Panorama Trail (strenuous, but very difficult in winter due to significant snow) 8.5 miles/13.7 km one-way to Valley floor (via Mist Trail); 6 hours for 3,200 feet/975 m descent Begin at the Panoram...
Take your children for a visit back in time by wandering through Wawona’s Pioneer Village. To get there, just park in the parking lot at the Wawona General Store and walk away from Highway 41. On yo...
Poopenaut Valley (strenuous) 3 miles (4.8 km) round-trip; 2 hours Begin four miles east of the Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station (look for small turnout on the right) This trail provides quick access t...
Rancheria Falls (moderate) 13.4 miles (21.4 km) round-trip; 6 to 8 hours Begin at O’Shaughnessy Dam This trail continues past Wapama Falls to popular Rancheria Falls. ...
For a family hike that takes in all of the Valley’s splendor, park and then catch the shuttle to Sentinel Bridge. The entire hike is 2.8 miles, but it’s easy walking all the way. Start by walk...
Sentinel Dome and Taft Point (moderate) 2.2 miles (3.5 km) round-trip; 2 hours (to Sentinel Dome or Taft Point) Begin at Sentinel Dome/Taft Point trailhead (6 miles east of Bridalveil Creek Campgrou...
Smith Peak (moderate to strenuous) 13.5 miles (21.6 km) round-trip; 6 to 8 hours Begin at Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station This trail takes you through forest and meadow to Smith Peak, where you get g...
Besides the outdoor pools available to the public during summer at Curry Village and Yosemite Lodge swimming is permitted in all bodies of water in the park except Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and above...
Swinging Bridge Loop (easy) 4.8 miles (7.6 km) loop; 2 hours Begin at the Wawona Store parking area Follow Forest Drive, the paved road, two miles upstream from the store to the Seventh Day Adventi...
Ten Lakes (strenuous) 12.6 mi/20.3 km round-trip. 2,200 ft/671 m elevation gain; 6-8 hours Begin at Ten Lakes Trailhead, across Tioga Road from Yosemite Creek Picnic Area Follow this trail through ...
Leaving the park via Highway 41? A great bet with young children, this one-mile nature walk works well as a scavenger hunt. Just park in the dusty area by the lodge on Jackson Road, then do what we...
Directly across from the historic Wawona Hotel, you’ll find the 3.5-mile Meadow Loop Trail, a cool forest glen that’s perfect for a hot day. It’s virtually flat so it’s perfect for children an...
It’s not a hike, but no visit to the park is complete without a chance to ooh and aah over one of the world’s most magnificent sights—the towering granite walls and flowing waterfalls of Yosemit...
Tuolumne Meadows: Soda Springs and Parsons Lodge (easy) 1.5 miles (2.4 km) round-trip; 1 hour Begin at Lembert Dome parking area (shuttle stop #4) Walk along the gravel road and pass the locked gat...
The two-hour Tuolumne Meadows trail ride offers an excellent overview of Yosemite’s high country. You'll visit Tuolumne View on the Young Lakes Trail, which is an ideal lookout point for Cathedral R...
Upper Yosemite Fall (strenuous, but difficult in winter due to snow, especially beyond Columbia Rock) 7.2 miles/11.6 km round-trip; 6 to 8 hours; 2,700 feet/823 m elevation gain Begin at the Yosemit...
Valley Floor Loop (moderate, but may be a little snowy or icy in winter and the trail may be hard to find under snow) Full loop: 13 miles/20.9 km loop; 5 to 7 hours Half loop: 6.5 miles/10.5 km; 2.5...
Vernal Fall (moderate to strenuous; Mist Trail closed in winter, but access available via the John Muir Trail, which may be snowy) Vernal Fall footbridge: 1.6 miles/2.6 km round-trip; 1.5 hours with ...
Vogelsang High Sierra Camp (strenuous) 13.8 miles (22.2 km) round-trip, 1,400-foot elevation gain; 8 hours. Begin across the road from the Dog Lake parking area (Tuolumne Meadows Shuttle Stop #2) T...
Wapama Falls (moderate) 5 mi (8 km) round-trip; 2 hours Begin at O’Shaughnessy Dam This trail takes you to the base of Wapama Falls, passing two smaller waterfalls (during spring) on the way. Thi...
Often overlooked, the tiny hamlet of Wawona offers an array of interesting hikes and places to visit without the crowds of Yosemite Valley. ...
Yosemite's Wawona Golf Course was the first regulation course in the Sierra Nevada when it opened in 1918, and has provided golfers challenging but rewarding rounds ever since. Designed by Walter G. F...
Wawona Meadow Loop (easy) 3.5 miles (5.6 km) loop; 2 hours [leashed pets allowed] Begin at the Wawona Hotel Walk across the Wawona golf course on the paved road. Once across the golf course, take th...
Follow in the hoof-prints of Wawona's early pioneers on a two-hour ride that traverses the historic wagon road – the original route into Wawona over Chowchilla Mountain, around the Wawona meadow and...
Wawona to Mariposa Grove (moderate) 6 miles (9.6 km) to the Grizzly Giant (in the Mariposa Grove) Begin at Wawona Hotel The trail begins behind the last uphill building of the Wawona Hotel (Moore Co...
We have been providing California white water rafting at its best since 1978. Your safety is our number 1 priority -- we employ only certified California white water rafting guides. We use top-of-th...
More hikers probably enjoy Yosemite on a nice summer morning than fill the rest of Mariposa County during an entire year. Consequently, there are so many guide books and maps describing trails in the ...
Yosemite Close Up Tours provides a variety of unique guided tours throughout the Park. From inspiring tours of the Valley, Glacier Point, the Giant Sequoias, to trail hiking experiences, special inter...
Yosemite Fly Fishing offers a number of different types of trips seasonally. During the spring we fly fish private ranch ponds in the sierra foothills for trophy Largemouth Bass. These are fun excit...
The Yosemite Mountaineering School, open in Yosemite Valley all year, and at Tuolumne Meadows during summer, is an excellent place to get equipment, information, and instruction....
Just off of Hwy 41, near the small town of Fish Camp, Yosemite Trails Pack Station is located two miles outside Yosemite's south entrance. From these headquarters, my family has been herding cows an...
The two-hour ride to Mirror Lake is perfect for beginners looking for unique photographic opportunities. The half-day ride takes the adventurous up to Clark’s Point where they have access to ex...
These tours feature trained guides explaining the Park's geology, history and wildlife as you view the sites. For reservations, call the above number or go to the Yosemite Lodge tour desk, the...
Zephyr Whitewater is the largest whitewater rafting outfitter on the Merced river, just minutes away from Yosemite Valley. We have more Merced river trip launch dates, and guide more people down Yosem...
© 2004-2012 Official Yosemite/Mariposa County Tourism Bureau
